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Video by Spc. Michael Bezares

Noncombatants Evacuate Simulated Warzone

Joint Multinational Readiness Center

Sept. 20, 2019 | 2:08

(Department of state, U.S. Soldiers and Bosnia hold joint training simulations during Saber Junction twenty-nineteen.)

Noncombatants evacuate simulated warzone 22/sep/19
(2 minutes and 9 seconds) for immediate release

Spc. Bezares:

The U.S. Department of State trained along the one-seventy third-Airborne Combat Brigade and NATO partners and allies in a non-combatant evacuation scenario.

The simulated scenarios are part of Saber Junction twenty-nineteen joint multinational reediness center’s annual training.

Kelly Winck, foreign services officer (time 0:19 - 0:38):

Rt: 19

“Being able to fold us in gives us absolute invaluable experience at how we would actually process American citizens who need to be evacuated out of a war zone, a natural disaster area or any of those situations. We get real as real as it can get before the real world experience here doing that.”

Spc Bezares:

In this scenario displaced Americans and foreign citizens streamed into the fictional town of ubengsdorf after a simulated tweet sent out by the state department announcing an evacuation.

Maj. Chris Bradley, public affairs officer, 173rd Airborne (time 1:03 – 1:23):

Rt: 20

For the 173rd, this is our title 10 exercise. This means it is our opportunity to exercise all of our combat capabilities in a most realistic capability that we have, short of combat. Our ability to do this once a year or whenever directed, is really the hallmark of what the brigade is all about and this training at j-m-r-c allows us to do that.

Spc Bezares:

Bosnian soldiers augmented American troops by providing check point security for the non-combatants escaping into the American embassy.

Stephanie Sobek, foreign services officer (time 1:34 – 1:55):

Rt: 21

They are the upmost professionals and they really know their job inside and out. I think doing this exercise makes them even stronger, more prepared and more ready. So I very much feel that I can do my job and focus on my certain tasks, not having to be so concerned with my security with them around.

Spc Bezares:

This is the apex of training environments for everyone involved, and one that u.s. and nato allies and partners capitalize to exercise their full combat capabilities.

I’m Army Specialist Michael Bezares, one-thirty-eighth public affairs detachment, Hohenfels, Germany.

(end)

(Saber Junction has been held every year since twenty-eleven and with more nato partners and allies playing an integral part of the joint exercises.)